The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1887-10-02
SOME EsTRAY TERRITORY.

uDllc dLlcnllOB has UccH Cdiicu
to the fact that north of Texas and
west of the Indian Territory there
is a strip of land 200 miles long
and fifty wide, which is sometimes
designated OH the maps as ''Pub!ic
Lands" and sometimes as 'No
Mans Land" as it belongs to no
state or territory, has never been
surveyed and is not open to entry.
Though several thousand people
reside on this land, it is without
laws. They are said to get along
in a patriarchal style, and without
any other title to their land than
squatter rights, trusting that even
tually it will be confirmed TO them
by the general government, and
living in hopes that in due course
of time the unrecognized section
will form a a part of the new ter
ritory proposed to be formed from
the Indian Territory, or attached
to the adjoining territory of New
Mexico.
This, however, is not the only
stray piece of territory. belonging
to the United States. Dakota for
merly embraced within its boun-
diaries what is now the territory of
Wyoming, which was formed from
its southwestern portion. 1t is
said to have been created by
Thaddeus Stevens, of Pennsylva-
MIA, then the leader of his party in
the national house of representa-
tives, for the purpose of making
an official place for a personal
friend, who had distinguished him.
self as colonel of a Pennsylvania
regiment of volunteers at Gettys-
burg. 1t was named after Wyo-
ming valley, Pennsylvania, des-
ignation entirely inappropriate aud
also confusing. 1t should have
had a name suggestive of its local
ity and which would have been en-
tirely distinct from the distant aud
famous valley. This similarity has
been the cause of no end OF trouble
in postal matters, letters for the
territory often going to the Penn
sylvania valley and vice versa.
When the territory of Wyom-
ing was formed IT'S boundaries
were parallel lines and were, of
course, irrespective of mountain
ranges or the courses of rivers.
The southwestern portion of Da-
kota had abutted on Idaho, which
territory in its boundaries followed
the mountain ranges, giving it a
sort of leg of mutton shape, the
three upper counties, which prop
erly belong to Washington terri
tory, being the bone handle. The
peculiar formation of Wyoming
and Idaho left between them a
considerable area of land. This,
from oversight, still belongs to
Dakota, though separated from it
by an organized territory, and so
designated on the maps of the
United States land office of the
interior department. 1t is, how
ever, without laws as it is not
embraced within the jurisdiction
of the district or county courts of
Dakota and is outside of those of
Idaho, to which it is more proper
ly assignable. 1t is, like 'No
Mans Land" virtually a neutral
for criminals. Many of
its residents are Mormons and
polygamists, but they cannot be
tried for polygamy or any other
crime they may commit, because
in the present state of affairs there
is no tribunal before which they
could be legally brought. This |
leaving a piece Of territory out in |
the cold is significant of the care
less manner in which congress at |
times performs the work of legis.
Iation. An act should be passed
At the earliest opportunity attach
ing this orphan section to Idaho,
to which it properly belongs. I'll
would seem but proper, also, that |
mo Mans Land" on the Indian |
territory border should in some
way. have extended over it the